Is the Bible Difficult to Understand?

With many versions of the Bible in print, we can be thankful that there's a version that makes God's word easy to understand. Take a look at these familiar verses:

John 3:16-18 (The Message)

16-18"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

Click here to try out other versions.

Pink Saturday - Chest of Drawers

Beverly at How Sweet the Sound hosts Pink Saturday. Stop by her place to see the many other Pretty Pink items that Precious Pink Participating People are sharing.





I want to share a picture of the top of the chest of drawers in our bedroom. Hanging on the wall is a Claude Monet print called "The Reader." A tan vase of faux flowers in white and pink pulls the color from the picture. My walls are not pink, although they appear so here.



I downloaded this from the internet so that you can see the beauty of the Monet. Notice the touches of soft pink in the painting.



My camera doesn't like for me to do close ups, but even though this is blurry, I wanted you to see the pretty pink color.


The figurine is from Spain. It is labeled, "Ingles." The crystal was a gift from a friend who knows that Johnny golfs every Wednesday. It's handmade from Czech Republic "Glass Bohemia."


Happy Pink Saturday!

PS The paint color is Benjamin Moore's "Soft Sand." It's painted in 8 inch stripes of flat 2106-60 and semi-gloss 2106-50.

Snow Time!

I hope that you had a Terrific Thanksgiving and that today you are able to grab a bunch of Super Sales or have fun eating leftovers!

I'm busy packing away the autumn decorations. It used to be an easy thing to do, but now that Blogland has inspired me to do more, I have more to put away!

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Saying Grace"

by Norman Rockwell

Saturday Evening Post Cover - November 24, 1951


I have a print of this painting hanging in my dining room.

"Without thinking too much about it in specific terms, I was showing the America I knew and observed to others who might not have noticed. My fundamental purpose is to interpret the typical American. I am a story teller." Norman Rockwell

Diet Soda Mystery Cake Recipe

I just found this WEIRD recipe from hungrygirl@hungry-girl.com, a newsletter I subscribe to.

Diet Soda Mystery Cake
Just take a box of cake mix, and INSTEAD of adding the eggs, oil, water, etc., that the box tells you to add, just mix with 1 can of diet soda, and then bake according to box directions (or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean). That's it!

You can do the same with brownie mix as well. Diet cream soda and diet lemon-lime soda both work GREAT with yellow and white cakes, as do fruity diet sodas like black cherry and orange.

Turkey Recipe

Here is a turkey recipe that also includes the use of popcorn as a stuffing -- imagine that. When I found this recipe, I thought it was perfect for people like me, who just are not sure how to tell when poultry is thoroughly cooked, but not dried out. Give this a try.

1- 15 lb. turkey
1 cup melted butter
1 cup stuffing (Pepperidge Farm is best)
1 cup uncooked popcorn (any brand)
Salt/pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.. Brush turkey well with melted butter salt, and pepper. Fill cavity with stuffing and popcorn. Place in baking pan with the neck end toward the back of the oven.

Listen for the popping sounds. When the oven door blows open and the bird flies across the room, it's done.

Topic of Interest Tag

Donna at Shimmymom tagged me with the Topics of Interest Tag. There are no questions, just a list of topics that require you to say what you think about them. When I finish with this one, you'll know everything about me.

Clothes
I like clothes and often wear them. In fact, I have a closet full. I wear mostly slacks and blouses. That's "shirts" to you youngsters. In MY day, a shirt was worn by a man, and since I'm definitely NOT a man, I still wear blouses.

Furniture
I like furniture too, and have a house full of it. I have beds, chairs, and tables, and I use them every day. We were young and poor when we first married. We rented a furnished apartment. I bought my furniture a piece at a time, and I bought quality, so I still have it. And, it's still beautiful; traditional/classic does not go out of style. Every now and again, I do reupholster some things. The only furniture that I can see us replacing would be the sofa and chair set in our family room as it gets used the most. It took me eleven years to find the "right" coffee/end tables for that room, so you can understand that I'm not changing them. I will say, though that my favorite daughter-in-law has told me she wants those pieces when I'm finished using them! Now, don't go jumping on her; that's a compliment to me.

Sweets
Now you're talking! I'm a sweetaholic. My favorite is Baskin Robbins Pralines 'n Cream ice cream. However, I'll enjoy cake, cookies, candy--oh you name it; I'll scarf it down. Funny, but I don't like chocolate (so I'm either not female or not alive.) Brownies are the exception; I do like brownies. Hmm. My loving sweets might just be the reason I'm not thin.

City
I am a city girl. I was raised in Washington, D.C. and have lived in a big city all my life. I'd go nuts in a small town or in the country. I need the lullaby of jets soaring overhead to fall into a peaceful sleep!

Drink
I am a teetotaler; I do not drink any alcohol. My father drank enough for the both of us, and my childhood was difficult because of it. I've heard that 1 oz. of alcohol kills brain cells, and I can't afford to give any away. My favorite drink is Diet Sprite mixed with Ocean Spray Light Cranberry Juice. Yum.

Music
I love music and listen to it often. My favorite type of music is 50's, but I enjoy listening to most any. You ladies have good taste, as far as I'm concerned because whenever I click on your blogs I enjoy what's playing. I'm usually be-bopping around here while I'm trying to read your posts and leave a comment.

TV
I'm addicted to it.
I like Dancing with the Stars, Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Survivor, The Amazing Race, and Pushing Daisies. I no longer watch cops and robber shows.

Film
I enjoy going to the movies, but I'm picky as to how I spend my time and money. Generally, I will not go to R-rated movies. Johnny likes action films--the kinds with cars flipping over. I prefer romantic comedies. We take turns tolerating the other's preferences. We've tried both Net Flix and Blockbusters, but ran out of films we wanted to view. I own no DVDs. I don't understand wanting to see something more than once. (I don't reread books either.)

Coffee
I have two cups each morning with Creamora and Sweet 'n Low. If I drink any after noon, I don't sleep well. When I was younger, I drank the stuff whenever.

If you haven't done this one yet, you're tagged!

Blue Monday - Blue Lake with Ducks

It's Blue Monday! To participate:

1. Post about something blue on your blog. It can be pretty, ugly, funny, old, or new as long as it's blue. Leave a link to this blog on your post.

2. Drag the Blue Monday button from here, and place it on your blog. Place another one on your sidebar.

3. Return here after midnight when Mr. Linky will be up, and leave your name and your URL. Do NOT link in until after your post is up. Please remember to leave a comment for me.

4. Visit other Blue participants by clicking on their links. Make someone's day; leave a comment.

5. Check back later to make certain you visit all the Blue participants.
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You may have wondered where all the birds have gone from your neighborhoods. Well, when it gets chilly where you live, they take a vacation in Sunny South Florida! Here's a shot of our backyard showing some ducks going for a swim in some pretty blue water.
Blue Monday Participants

1. ellen b 2. Rechelle 3. CarolaNativityGallery 4. Sheila@TheQuintessentialMagpie 5. coloradolady 6. Elizabeth 7. An Enchanted Cottage 8. Kathy b 9. Lana G! 10. Gemma 11. Linnea

12. Sally 13. Heidi Jo the Artist 14. Patty/PipStitch 15. Jeanne 16. Dirkjogt, Belgium 17. bj 18. Mojo, NC, USA 19. Sweetie 20. Diane 21. Barbara H. 22. PlantBuddy

23. Charlotte 24. Knitty 25. JLS Hall 26. Andi 27. Sherrie 28. jsprik 29. Katie 30. Judi 31. charli and me 32. Baba\'s blog

Learn more about Blue Monday here.
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Gratitude

May we be grateful each day for the wonderful things God gives us.

More Than A Day



As Thanksgiving Day rolls around,
It brings up some facts, quite profound.
We may think that we're poor,
Feel like bums, insecure,
But in truth, our riches astound.

We have friends and family we love;
We have guidance from heaven above.
We have so much more
Than they sell in a store,
We're wealthy, when push comes to shove.

So add up your blessings, I say;
Make Thanksgiving last more than a day.
Enjoy what you've got;
Realize it's a lot,
And you'll make all your cares go away.

By Karl Fuchs

Pink Saturday - Sky

Beverly at How Sweet the Sound hosts Pink Saturday. Stop by her place to see the many other Pretty Pink items that Precious Pink Participating People are sharing.

I got this idea from Donna at Pictures, Pots, and Pens. We have gorgeous sunrises and sunsets at our home in South Florida. Let me share.





Sunrise



Sunset



I have three titles that I'm giving away this week. Check out my sidebars if you're interested. Happy Pink Saturday!

How to Have a Happy Thanksgiving

I'm lucky. My daughter-in-law does most of the cooking for Thanksgiving, and she is sweet enough to ask me to bring a dish or two. This year I'm bringing candied yams and pumpkin pies.

Here's a recipe for squash casserole that my daughter got from a friend years ago. It's become a family tradition to have it for Thanksgiving, and this year, my oldest granddaughter will make it for the second year. I'm so proud! Aren't traditions special?

Preheat oven to 350 and butter a 9 x 11 baking dish
3 pkgs. yellow squash,sliced into coin-sized round pieces
2 eggs, beaten
1 small (5 oz.) can evaporated milk
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1 small onion, chopped fine
2 cups (2 rounds) Ritz crackers
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Cook squash and onion until tender--NOT mushy--maybe 5 minutes. DRAIN. Add butter, salt, pepper and mix. Add eggs and mix. Add cheese and crackers and mix. Pour into a greased 9 x 11 baking dish. Bake uncovered @350 for 40 minutes.

I don't see why all of that separate mixing must take place, but I don't dare deviate! Remember, I'm a wimp.

Booking Through Thursday - Honesty

I receive a lot of review books, but I have never once told lies about the book just because I got a free copy of it. However, some authors seem to feel that if they send you a copy of their book for free, you should give it a positive review.

Do you think reviewers are obligated to put up a good review of a book, even if they don’t like it? Have we come to a point where reviewers *need* to put up disclaimers to (hopefully) save themselves from being harassed by unhappy authors who get negative reviews?

My Response:
I review books, and if you read my reviews, you will know that I am honest. I give my opinion of the work--simple as that. I will add, though, that I recognize that an author has put his time and effort into the title; no one should be treated badly, even if the job is not done well. Therefore, I do look for the good things. I state the weak points, but highlight those good points so that readers can make their own informed choices.

I have had interactions with authors, but always been on a professional level. I do not feel the need to define the job of reviewing by establishing disclaimers. My integrity cannot be bought for the price of a book!

What's your take on this question?

Check out my giveaways on my sidebar!

A Tag from Dawn

Dawn from Dawn's Daybreak is a faithful blogging friend who teaches kindergarten. What a lucky group of children to have her for a teacher! Dawn tagged me with a book meme. I've actually done this before on my book blog, but I'm game to share again. The rules are:

1. Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog.

2. Share seven random and/or weird book facts about yourself.

3. Tag seven random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.

4. Let each person know that they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.


My seven random book facts:


1. I got my first library card when I was five years old, after signing my name in cursive.


2. While in high school, I got in trouble when my mother caught me reading Peyton Place.


3. I’ve read all of Ernest Hemingway’s novels without like any of them.


4. I’ve read most of Ernest Hemingway’s short stories and loved almost all of them.


5. I served as a library aide when I was in junior high school.


6. As an adult, I worked as a Library Clerk in a public high school.


7. I established a church library from scratch, using the Dewey Decimal System and card catalog and grew the collection to over 1,000 volumes.


The seven fortunate people I choose to do this are:

Cathy at Melodies and Hymnsongs

Jeanne at Backyard Neighbor

Diane at A Picture Is Worth...

Chris at Chris's Corner

Squawmama at Our Adventures with Tassie

Shelia at Note Songs

Carol at Charli and Me


After you leave a comment, take a look at my sidebar. There are two make-up books I'm giving away.  If you win one and don't need it because you're so gorgeous, maybe you'll have another Christmas present to regift!

Awards & Tags

Robyn at There's Always Thyme for... shared this tag and these following two awards.

Six Things I Value (in no particular order):

1. My Savior

2. My husband and family

3. Blogging (and blogging friends)

4. My church (and church family)

5. My computer--a Mac, of course!

6. The ability to read without glasses (books, books, and more books!)


Six Things That I Don't Value (in no particular order):

1. Rude people

2. Computerized phone calls

3. Cell phone conversations in public places

4. Dishonesty

5. Violence

6. Commercials (on TV, radio, internet, billboards, etc.)

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I met Edna at Pink Saturday. She prefers being called Ed and her blog site is Ed's Place shared the following two awards:

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Darlene at Darlene's Days shared these next two awards:

First, I must list three things I love about myself. (Ouch! This is tough!)

1. I'm a positive-thinking person. My glass is always half full.

2. I try to do my best.

3. I am a good blogging buddy because I visit and comment often.

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Diane from Crafty Passions presented the following award:

This award acknowledges the values that every blogger shows in his/her effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary and personal values every day.

The rules to follow are :
1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person that has granted the award and his or her blog link.
2) Pass the award to other 15 blogs that are worthy of this acknowledgment. Remember to contact each of them to let them know they have been chosen for this award. Now, folks at this point, I rebel. I am not taking time to link 15 people! Shh! Don't tell Diane!

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Bridget at here shared the next two awards:



Friendship Award came with these questions to answer:

Do you have the same friends from childhood?
I married at seventeen, moved around a lot, and just lost touch.

Are your friends sounding boards?
Not so much; that's what Johnny is for.

What is your favorite activity to share with your friends?
Talking on the telephone or doing lunch.

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The Blogger Friend Award is for reading her post the day before and commenting--an easy chore for me!

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Alaura at Cottage Rose shared this Marie Antonette Award with the first seven people to leave her comments. Lucky me, I was there at the right time! Then, Judi at Judi Creations shared the same award! Next, Charlotte at At Home in Scottsdale presented me with it. Isn't it pretty?

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Awards are fun to give and to receive. An award is a bit of Blogger love, and we all need more love. If you're reading this and making a comment, please accept these awards as an expression of my love for you.

And I'm adding this joke to thank you for patiently going through this long post.

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Check out the sidebar for more BOOK GIVEAWAYS!

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Blue Monday - Guest Room Pictures

It's Blue Monday! To participate:

1. Post about something blue on your blog. It can be pretty, ugly, funny, old, or new as long as it's blue. Leave a link to this blog on your post.

2. Drag the Blue Monday button from here, and place it on your blog. Place another one on your sidebar.

3. Return here after midnight when Mr. Linky will be up, and leave your name and your URL. Do NOT link in until after your post is up. Please remember to leave a comment for me.

4. Visit other Blue participants by clicking on their links. Make someone's day; leave an encouraging comment.

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These are prints that I had matted and framed for our home over thirty years ago. They're now in the guestroom. This is the largest. You see it just inside the door. I choose the mat to match the slash of blue in the print.

I used to have the larger one hanging in the center of these, but now they're separated. These hang on the wall at the foot of the bed.


I'm showing you them separately so that you can see the pretty framing.





**If you haven't yet entered my latest book giveaway, please go to my last Wednesday's post. I think that there are some Beyond Belief books left to grab for the guy in your life. It's almost over. Please leave your email in code!

Blue Monday Participants

1. Theresa 2. Lana G! 3. Anne Fannie 4. ellen b 5. claudie 6. kathy b 7. deslilas 8. An Enchanted Cottage 9. Gemma 10. coloradolady 11. CarolaNativityGallery 12. Rechelle 13. Kim

14. Heidi Jo the Artist 15. Linnea 16. Knitty 17. Sweetie 18. Mojo 19. Baba\'s blog 20. Shelia 21. Elizabeth 22. Jane 23. PlantBuddy 24. Faith 25. Charlotte 26. Judi

27. Cindy 28. charli and me 29. Barbara H. 30. Envoy-ette 31. Susan Hickam 32. Backyard Neighbor 33. CC 34. Bridget 35. JLS Hall 36. jsprik 37. Melissa 38. Melissa

Learn more about Blue Monday here.
View More Blue Monday Participants
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Fall Arrangement

This little joke reminds us that Thanksgiving Day is coming. We have much to be thankful for EVERY day.





To visit others, click here.

Pink Saturday - Christmas Palace Shopping

Beverly at How Sweet the Sound hosts Pink Saturday. Stop by her Pink place to see the many other Pretty Pink items that Precious Pink Participating People are sharing.
When I started this meme, I thought that I might last for a month, but now I'm finding Pink everywhere I look!
For instance, Johnny and I went to a special store to shop this week. It's called Christmas Palace. Perhaps you have one in your area. They are jammed packed with everything Christmas. What's that in the back corner? Do you see some Pink?



Pink dolls! All kinds of dolls dressed in white and pale pink. What a beautiful display!



Here's more pink. This time it's ornaments of many shapes and sizes.



Look at the tree loaded in pink and gold. I took a close-up so you could study the decorations.



Happy Pink Saturday!

If you're interested in a book giveaway, check out the one from this past Tuesday. To enter, please leave that email address in code.

My Thanksgiving Meme

First Pilgrim Unbuckles After Overeating at Thanksgiving

I found this meme from the 2006 archives of Amy at Ink, Paper, Yarn - Oh My! I've changed a thing here and there to make it my own. Here are my answers:

1. Which do you like better: cooking at your house, or going elsewhere?

These days, I prefer going. I’ve spent many Thanksgiving days cooking at my house, but the past years I’ve smiled as my daughter-in-law does the cooking. She’s a good cook, too!


2. Do you buy a fresh or frozen bird?

My favorite has long been the Butterball frozen.


3. What kind of stuffing?

I like what Mama made, and it’s what I always made. However, I eat whatever is on the table, as long as not too much sage is used.


4. Sweet potato or pumpkin pie?

Pumpkin pie AND Pecan pie.


5. Do you believe that turkey leftovers are a curse, or the point of the whole thing?

Never a curse! The whole idea of Thanksgiving dinner is the wonderful turkey, lettuce, and mayonnaise sandwich later on.


6. Which side dish would provoke a riot if you left it off the menu?

Candied sweet potatoes


7. Do you save the carcass to make soup or stock?

I used to save the carcass to make soup. Throw in some vegetables, add some noodles or rice and yum!


8. What do you wish you had that would make preparing Thanksgiving dinner easier?

A new back when mine aches.


9. Do you get up at the crack of dawn to have dinner ready in the early afternoon, or do you eat at your normal dinner hour?

When I cooked, I’d get up at the crack of dawn and get the turkey in the oven early so we could eat during halftime. This gave Johnny an additional thing to be thankful for.


10. If you go to somebody else's house, what's your favorite dish to bring?

Pumpkin Pie


11. What do you wish one of your guests would not bring to your house? What would you like them to bring?

Wine; I'd like autumn flowers.


12. Does your usual mix of guests result in drama, or is it a group you're happy to see?

We’re all thankful to be able to spend the time together.


13. Is your cranberry sauce fresh or canned? Whole or jellied?

canned jellied


14. What's your absolute favorite thing on the menu?

Turkey with some cranberry sauce on top. Johnny would say mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie with whipped cream.

14. Share one family tradition.

Before saying grace and eating, we go around the table with each one telling what they are most thankful for this year.

Booking Through Thursday - Why Buy?

Even if you are a die-hard fan of the public library system, I’m betting you have at least ONE permanent resident on your bookshelves in your house. I’m betting that no real book-lover can go through life without owning at least one book. So, why that one? What made you buy the books that you actually own, even though your usual preference is to borrow and return them?

If you usually buy your books, tell me why. Why buy instead of borrow? Why shell out your hard-earned dollars for something you could get for free?

My Response:
The first and most precious book I own is the Bible. Obviously, I wouldn't want to check out and renew a Bible constantly, since it's a book I try to read daily. Of course I have reference books: dictionary, thesaurus, book of quotes, Shakespeare's works, and other titles that have been given to me as gifts.

Other than that, I have a collection of John Grisham. A friend loaned me The Firm. When I finished that, I checked out A Time to Kill from the library, and I was hooked! Here is an author who can write: no run-on sentences or sentence fragments. He tells a good story. He's contemporary. Profanity is dramatically reduced. I began buying his books as they were published. My family loves to give his newest release to me as a gift. His is a book I'm proud to own.

One year, I even assigned The Street Lawyer for a summer read to my incoming tenth grade Gifted students. It's one of Grisham's few titles that has not been made into a movie, and it deals with the homeless. Although I've not cared as much for some of his latest publications, I still consider John Grisham an American treasure.

What's your answer?

A Merry, Merry Christmas Giveaway!

I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but I want you to have something extra to be thankful for, and I need time to have these get mailed out to you.

What could be better than solving a gift problem for one of the most difficult people-to-buy-for on your Christmas list? Wait until you hear about this, and I'm sure you'll agree that it's not too early. The generous folks at Hachette Book Group are allowing me to host another major book giveaway! This time I choose the titles. I asked if I could offer two titles that Johnny (who hates to read) has actually read (!) and enjoyed!

Both of the following books are about awesome Christian men. Read the publisher's description in blue, followed by my review in black. Decide which one you'd like to get for that hard-to-buy-for man in your life, and follow the directions below. I understand that some people reading this will not be interested; that's fine, but please leave me a comment anyway. (I get awfully lonely!)

From the commander of the Delta Force team portrayed in the movie Black Hawk Down comes a gripping testimony of faith refined by the fire of unimaginable trial! Learn how General Boykin's experiences in the Special Forces---and in the crosshairs of the media---shook and ultimately strengthened his trust in God.

My Review:
Johnny and I are very different people. I am an avid reader; he would tell you that he hates to read. Nevertheless, when this book came into our home, he picked it up. (Trust me, that's unusual.) He turned a couple of pages, and when I gently suggested he take a look at it, he began to read! He did not stop that first day until he got to sixty-some pages.

The following day, he picked it up and read some more! As we drove down the street one day, he began to tell me about this man's life. I asked, "If this were made into a movie..."

"I'd go see it!" he exclaimed, interrupting me. He loves action films, and he said that's what kind of film this book would make. On another day, he stated, "This man is a machine! You can't believe the things he's done!" Well, he finished reading the book! Yep, he read all 350 pages, and he loved it.


Josh Hamilton was the first player chosen in the first round of the 1999 baseball draft. He was destined to be one of those rare "high-character " superstars. But in 2001, working his way from the minors to the majors, all of the plans for Josh went off the rails in a moment of weakness. What followed was a 4-year nightmare of drugs and alcohol, estrangement from friends and family, and his eventual suspension from baseball.

BEYOND BELIEF details the events that led up to the derailment. Josh explains how a young man destined for fame and wealth could allow his life to be taken over by drugs and alcohol. But it is also the memoir of a spiritual journey that breaks through pain and heartbreak and leads to the rebirth of his major-league career.

Josh Hamilton makes no excuses and places no blame on anyone other than himself. He takes responsibility for his poor decisions and believes his story can help millions who battle the same demons. "I have been given a platform to tell my story" he says. "I pray every night I am a good messenger."

My Review:
My husband, who by his own definition, is a non-reader, thought that this book was "great!" Addicted to sports, my husband grabbed this book when it came into our home. This is an easy read for any baseball addict, but is also a good read even for a non-lover of the game. In this memoir, Josh Hamilton is so talented a ball player that he receives $3.9 million bonus just for signing with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at age eighteen.

Here is a man devoted to family and God, who comes close to throwing all away. My husband found himself getting angry as he read about the many bad choices Josh made for four long years! The promise of a Golden Life tarnishes because of drugs and alcohol.

Family ties are strong, and one special family member comes through to help him turn around, and advance all the way to the All-Star Home Run Derby in 2008.

Now here's the amazing part. This giveaway is for five (5) copies each of these newly released, brand new, hardbound books! That's a total of ten (10) books!

• Winners are restricted to the US and Canada. No PO Box mailing addresses, please.
• I must have a way of contacting you, so be sure to leave your email address in code in your comment: you[at]yourmail[dot]com (Please do not ask me to look it up!)
• I'll close the comments at 6PM EST November 18th and pick the ten winners. I will contact the winners via email to get their mailing information. The winners will have three days to respond. If I do not hear from them within three days, I will select another winner(s).
• If you're interested, just say so in a comment. (If you are not interested, please leave me a comment anyway because you KNOW how I love comments!)
• Last giveaway, I felt badly because so many said they wanted the book, but they neglected to leave the all-important email address in code.
  

Veterans Day & The Shopper

(I realize that the date is wrong, but I can do nothing about that.)

My husband is a veteran. He never fought in a war, but he served four years in the Navy. Today I thank him and all of the men and women who helped me have freedom to enjoy.

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A woman was in town on a shopping trip. She began her day finding the most perfect shoes in the first shop and a beautiful dress on sale in the second. In the third store, everything had just been reduced to only $5.00 when her mobile phone rang. It was a female doctor notifying her that her husband had just been in a terrible accident, and was in critical condition in the ICU.

The woman told the doctor to inform her husband where she was and that she'd be there as soon as possible. As she hung up, she realized she was leaving what had been shaping up to be her best shopping day ever. She decided to get in a couple more stops before heading to the hospital. She ended up shopping the for the rest of the morning, finishing her trip with a cup of coffee and a beautiful complimentary coffee cake slice. She was jubilant.

Then she remembered her husband! Feeling guilty, she dashed to the hospital. She saw the doctor in the corridor and asked about her husband's condition.

The female physician glared at her and shouted, "You went ahead and finished your shopping trip didn't you? I hope you're proud of yourself! While you were out for the past four hours enjoying yourself in town, your husband has been languishing in the Intensive Care Unit! It's just as well you went ahead and finished, because it will more than likely be the last shopping trip you'll ever take! For the rest of his life he will require round-the-clock care. And you'll now be his care-giver!"

The wife broke down and sobbed.

The female doctor chuckled and said, "I'm just pulling your leg. He's dead. Let's see what you bought."

Blue Monday - Covered Container

It's Blue Monday! To participate:

1. Post about something blue on your blog. It can be pretty, ugly, funny, old, or new as long as it's blue. Leave a link to this blog on your post.

2. Drag the Blue Monday button from here, and place it on your blog. Place another one on your sidebar.

3. Return here after midnight when Mr. Linky will be up, and leave your name and your URL. Do NOT link in until after your post is up. Please remember to leave a comment for me.

4. Visit other Blue participants by clicking on their links. Make someone's day; leave a comment.

5. Check back later to make certain you visit all the Blue participants.
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Two weeks ago, I showed you a blue dish that I had on my dresser. This week, I'm showing its companion piece. This container has a lid, which allows me to hide the contents. Want to peek inside?



Okay, just for you, I'll take off the cover. I keep safety pins in this piece! Dry cleaners seem to use a good many safety pins, and I just can't see throwing perfectly good things away. This keeps them handy.




Blue Monday Participants

1. ellen b 2. Mojo 3. Lana G! 4. Kim 5. Anne Fannie 6. An Enchanted Cottage 7. Melissa 8. coloradolady 9. Kady 10. CC 11. Linnea 12. Gemma 13. Dirkjogt, Belgium 14. troyes 15. Rechelle

16. Kim 17. bj 18. Sherrie 19. Backyard Neighbor 20. Baba\'s blog 21. Diane 22. Elizabeth 23. Sweetie 24. Shelia 25. Sally 26. Leena 27. PlantBuddy 28. Linda\'s Blue Gate 29. Charlotte 30. Knitty

31. Jane 32. Rhonda 33. CarolaNativityGallery 34. Hesses Madhouse 35. De Bezige Bijen 36. Ruthie 37. charli and me 38. april 39. Nikki 40. jsprik 41. claudie 42. theresa 43. Heidi Jo the Artist

Learn more about Blue Monday here.
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Do You Like to Wear Gold?

Remember what the street are paved with in Heaven?


To see other participants in Spiritual Sunday go here.

The winners of the giveaways have been notified by email. If you did not win a book, don't despair; I will have more giveaways soon.

See you tomorrow for Blue Monday!

Pink Saturday - Touches of Pink

Beverly at How Sweet the Sound hosts Pink Saturday. Take a Portion of your day to stop by her Place to see the many other Particularly Pretty Pink Pieces that Precious Participating Pink People are Pointing out.



I don't have much pink in my house, but I have found some touches. This is a dish that a friend gave me some years ago. I use it in the center of my white kitchen table. I love the soft blue and pink.

I went to a House of Lloyd's party years ago and bought this lovely lady. She's labeled "Garden Party Figurine." Her hat matches the pink flowers around the hem of her skirt and those in her hair. I keep the small mirror behind her so that her pink flowers in her hands can be seen.

I wanted some color for my all white bathroom, so I made this arrangement. The flowers are white with a delicate pink center. They look good in this blue container with swirls of purple, white, teal, and pink.


Happy Pink Saturday!

I hope to see you on Blue Monday.

Proper Placement for New Hires

1. Put 400 bricks in a closed room.

2. Put your new hires in the room and close the door.

3. Leave them alone and come back after 6 hours.

4. Then analyze the situation:



If they are counting the bricks, put them in the Accounting Department.

If they are recounting them, put them in Auditing.

If they have messed up the whole place with the bricks, put them in Engineering.

If they are arranging the bricks in some strange order, put them in Planning.

If they are throwing the bricks at each other, put them in Operations.

If they are sleeping, put them in Security.

If they have broken the bricks into pieces, put them in Information Technology.

If they are sitting idle, put them in Human Resources.

If they say they tried different combinations, they are looking for more, yet not a brick has been moved, put them in Sales.

If they have already left for the day, put them in Management.

If they are staring out of the window, put them in Strategic Planning.

If they are talking to each other, and not a single brick has been moved, congratulate them and put them in Top Management.

Finally, if they have surrounded themselves in such a way that they can neither be seen nor heard from, put them in Congress.

Booking Through Thursday - Presents

What, if any, memorable or special book have you ever gotten as a present? Birthday or otherwise. What made it so notable? The person who gave it? The book itself? The “gift aura?”

My Response:
No one special gift book stands out, but I can remember getting books for my birthday, Mother's Day, and Christmas on several occasions. I love books, and it's an obvious gift choice for me. They have all been novels, except for one time in my life. That was my college graduation at age forty-nine.

I'm a late bloomer. When I graduated from college, my daughter and son-in-law threw me a surprise graduation party. I received several reference books as gifts: Webster's New Universal Unabridged Dictionary--an almost five-inch thick volume, One Hundred Great Operas and Their Stories, and The Complete Poems of of Keats & Shelley. Those titles were selected as symbols of pride at what an old lady could accomplish. Over the years, the dictionary has been frequently used. The opera book was given to me by a couple who, along with my husband and me, were season ticket holders for that one year. I opened it a few times. The poetry book has been the most neglected. It was a gift from my son and his wife, who were impressed with my GPA and envisioned me curling up and reading it night after night. These presents are special because when I look at them, I remember the time of celebration, the wonderful surprise party, and the love of family and close friends.

Have you ever received a special book for a gift?

One-Word Answers

I got this meme from Robyn at There's Always Thyme for... Pay her a visit if you can.


1. Where is your cell phone. Returned

2. Where is your significant other? Sports-watching

3. Your hair color? Brownish

4. Your Mother? gone

5. Your Father? gone

6. Your favorite thing? Reading

7. Your dream last night? Pleasant

8. Your dream goal? Accomplished!

9. The room you're in? Office

10. Your hobby? Blogging

11. Your fear? Bugs

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Home

13. Where were you last night? Home

14. What you are not? Thin!

15. One of your wish list items? Health

16. Where you grew up? DC

17. The last thing you did? Comment


18. What are you wearing? Slacks

19. Your TV? Wall

20. Your Pet? gone

21. Your computer? Mac

22. Your Mood? Smiling

23. Missing someone? Mama

24. Your car? Avalon

25. Something you're not wearing? Shoes


26. Favorite Store? Walmart

27. Your summer? Wonderful

28. Love someone? Totally

29. Your favorite color? Blue!

30. When was the last time you laughed? Today

31. When was the last time you cried? Movies



P.S. We must continue to pray...for our president (Bush) and for our president-elect (Obama), and it wouldn't hurt to pray for a hard-worker, Senator McCain.

What Do Green Hands Make?

Ann from Anne Fannie's Green Acres sent me this package. She's an Italian Blogging Buddy who lives in California. You know I LOVE Italians; after all, I married one! You've heard of people who have a green thumb. Go to her blog, and you'll soon discover that she has a green hand. What a garden! In addition, she is quite a creative lady.


Inside was some blue tissue with this cute little bag. Look at the hand printed tag. That's an exact drawing of how I look. Yep, that young. That thin. That stylish. And, I have a blue dress like that too. (sigh)

The back of the tag has the sweetest message, "To Sally. From Ann. Thank you for Blue Mondays!"

Inside the package is the beautiful handmade blue and white mosaic tile star with a blue satin ribbon attached. Oh, you know that's going on my Christmas tree! And, when the tree comes down, I'll wrap it in its blue tissue to save for all my future Christmas trees. Hmm, I wonder how Ann knew that I'd like blue?

Thank you, Ann for being so generous. I will treasure this ornament for many years to come.

Blue Monday - Exciting Book Giveaway!

It's Blue Monday! To participate:

1. Post about something blue on your blog. It can be pretty, ugly, funny, old, or new as long as it's blue. Leave a link to this blog on your post.

2. Drag the Blue Monday button from here, and place it on your blog. Place another one on your sidebar.

3. Return here after midnight when Mr. Linky will be up, and leave your name and your URL. Do NOT link in until after your post is up. Please remember to leave a comment for me.

4. Visit other Blue participants by clicking on their links. Make someone's day; leave a comment.

5. Check back later to make certain you visit all the Blue participants.
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Is it too early to begin shopping for Christmas--even if you don't have to spend a penny?

My offering for today is to have you read until you're blue in the face! On behalf of the generous Hachette Book Group, I can offer ten (10) books to bloggers! It's simple. You leave a comment. Weren't you going to do that anyway? In the comment, tell me which book you'd like to win. If you would like both books, you must leave one comment for each book. I select the winners, and I pass along your mailing information to Hachette Book Group. They mail you the brand new book! How sweet is that?



International motivational speaker and sought-after businesss consultant Reverend Myles Munroe proves that true leaders empower others to discover their own leadership gifts.















Joyce Meyer is one busy lady. Apart from the normal demands of life, she teaches daily on TV and radio, writes books, holds conferences in dozens of cities every year and ministers around the world...and she runs Joyce Meyer Ministries. So she's had to learn how to make the most of every minute of the day! In 100 Ways to Simplify Your Life, Joyce shares the most effective secrets she's learned over the years for making the most of each minute of the day. In less than two pages per entry, Joyce gives us eminently 'doable' tips that are clearcut and ...well, SIMPLE. But they can change your whole outlook, not to mention your schedule.





* Winners are restricted to the US and Canada. No PO Box mailing addresses, please.

* I must have a way of contacting you, so be sure to leave your email address in code: you[at]yourmail[dot]com

* I'll close the comments at 7PM EST November 8th and pick the winners. I will contact the winners via email to get their snail mail address. The winners will have three days to respond. If I do not hear from the winner(s) within three days, I will select another winner(s).

* If you're interested, leave a comment with your title choice and that all-important email in code.

If you do NOT want a book, please leave a comment anyway, telling me that you're keeping your current face color. Happy, happy Blue Monday!

Blue Monday Participants

1. Rechelle 2. ellen b 3. Diane@A Picture.... 4. Claudie 5. Elizabeth-EO 6. Linnea 7. Anne Fannie 8. coloradolady 9. Kim 10. kathy b 11. fitty 12. An Enchanted Cottage 13. mom2my9 (Mexican Decor) 14. Eleanor 15. Gemma

16. CC 17. Sherrie 18. Kim 19. Backyard Neighbor 20. Lana G! 21. Baba\'s blog 22. Sweetie 23. Melissa 24. bj 25. PlantBuddy 26. Faith 27. Terie 28. Theresa 29. Kady 30. Barbara H.

31. Rita 32. Sally 33. Robyn 34. Knitty 35. Shelia 36. Carola Nativity Gallery 37. jsprik 38. Mojo 39. Dirkjogt, Belgium 40. Vikki. 41. April 42. Heidi Jo the Artist 43. Maria\'s Space

Learn more about Blue Monday here.
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The First Blogger

That's some extension cord! Isn't it wonderful that we have a direct line to God?
For those who would like to look the ten commandments up on the internet, try Exodus 20 Gateway Bible.


To see other participants in Spiritual Sunday go here.



See you tomorrow for Blue Monday!

Pink Saturday - These Are Just Two of My Favorite Things

Beverly at How Sweet the Sound hosts Pink Saturday. Stop by her place to see the many other pink items people are sharing. If you care to join up, click on her sidebar button that looks just like this one on the left. You'll find all the instructions.

I'm keeping it short and sweet today.

A cup of coffee from this place tastes better than coffee from THAT place. Could it be the pink on the cup?

Mmm, I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream from the pink place, of course!

What flavor? Okay, you can get strawberry if you'd like pink ice cream. I'll take my favorite: pralines and cream.


Happy Pink Saturday!